(I think it is ok to call people in the forum "members", I
was severly chastised for using the word "members" in a USENET
newsgroup posting).

I have some questions about the actual process of recording
(and editing) a Captivate application.
I am recording on-line intranet tutorials using Captivate 3.
I have also used Captivate 2.0.

I have tried a few ways to handle the recording issues. We
are recording demonstrations mostly, with some "real-time" motion
recording.

The tutorials we use are scripted - we have a script reader,
and record screen captures.

1. One method I have tried is opening up a browser window,
like MS Internet Explorer, and begin.
One person reads the script, and the other performs the
actions (click here, drag there, open this, etc).

This gives us an idea of slide timing and organization for
adding audio.

2. Another method I have used - is to review the script -
rewrite if required - and then record the audio separately from the
Captivate application, and adding the audio to slides (using the
Audio- timing - project from the menu). Then dragging the slides in
place, and then timing objects on slides as required (mouse,
highlights, captions, etc).

Depending on the size an complexity of the project this
method can be fast, or really slow.

And the last way -

3. Review the script, re-write, test script, no screen
captures or audio recording. After the script seems sound, we get
one "driver" - to perform the actions for screen recording, etc,
and one "reader" that reads the script while we use the Captivate
application to record both the audio and the screen captures.

To shorten this message - that is about it. I was wondering
what methods other Captivate users and developers are
using to do work similar to the effort outlined above.

The method I favor is not included in
any of your three (3) options. I agree that the "script is
everything", but I generally add audio from that script as a
separate step - after the recording process - as a part of the
routine editing procedure. That works better for me than to narrate
while recording.

I reject out of hand the idea of using a third-party audio
program to separately record audio to be separately
inserted/imported later ... the work involved in synchronizing
audio on the time-line is considerable, and often results in its
own horror stories about editing slide audio timing to correspond
to slide timing of objects and other actions. But maybe that's just
me. But maybe it's not ...
see
this thread for an example of how screwed up and frustrated you can
become, trying to fit a round peg into a square hole (with all
respect to the author of that thread.

In other news, I see nothing wrong with calling members uh,
members. I respond pretty well to any name that doesn't reference a
body part or function thereof. As a matter of fact, I've even been
called that (right here) from time to time. Sigh. So hard to
generate a little hero worship nowadays - but even so, I think I'll
keep on being me.
Have a nice day!
.

It sounds pretty much like we are "in sync" :). But,
what/how do you capture the audio?

Can I assume you perform the screen captures first, which
provides a presentation without audio. Then you record audio
(somehow). Would you be using captivate to record the audio, while
you play the project? I did not know we could do that.
To clarify: Record screen shots and actions (move, mouse,
open etc). Then when the screen capture is done, re-open the
project and play it, while recording the audio??

If that is how you do it, it sounds better that the other
methods I have tried. I will try this after I make this posting -
if it works, then the question here becomes moot!

Thanks so much for the input - one last question - what about
tracking "state" ? I have also tried to export a captivate project
with a bunch of slides to flash (no work well). The captivate
project size is 800x550 and plays fine - but when exported to Flash
(CS3 pro), the slide backgrounds are miniscule, and the highlight
boxes, etc are the proper size. Tips for exporting? I was thinking
about using flash as a menu - to play various captivate lessons
(swfs, etc), so I can tell the user which lesson he or she is on,
etc.